Plumbing bill in rented house.

Jami74

Please go gently on me, the truth is good but nastiness is not.

We have been living in our rented house for nearly four years. A couple of weeks ago the sink stopped draining properly (very slow). I undid all the pipes under the sink and gave them a good clean and used some Mr Muscle drain unblocker. I couldn't access further down and I couldn't see where the pipe left the house to drain outside. The water was still slow to drain and from the front of the house looked like it was leaking out through the wall so I called the letting agent and requested a plumber. They asked if we every put food or pour fat down the sink which we don't (don't use animal fats). The plumber came and unblocked the outside drain, put in new pipes and made a hole for an outlet pipe to the outside drain. A week later we recieved a letter from the letting agent which said "On two occasions you were asked if you put fat down the sink and you replied no. According to the plumbers report the blockage was caused by fat so for this reason the landlord will not pay" and a demand for £200. I phoned the plumber and asked him what he thought caused the blockage and he said it was probably a slow build up over a long period of time and that he didn't think it was due to fat being put down the sink, he also said the pipes were old and needed replacing anyway as they were leaking. He confirmed the total amount and said he was happy to talk to the letting agents if contacted him.

Mostly I'm upset that the letting agents letter implied that I lied. Are we responsible for the total bill or would it be reasonable to offer to pay half or is this the sort of thing that the landlord should fork out for?

Thanks for reading.

FATBALLZ

If you didn't cause the damage you are liable for zero. What you need to learn about letting agencies is they are run by uneducated high school dropouts who have zero legal knowledge and continually try to invent charges to make their dubious existence more profitable.

Do not take any crap - lay down the law and hopefully the letting agent/landlord will reconsider before trying to rip you off next time.

G_M

Write back denying you are responsible and asking to see a copy of the plumbers report. Once you see it come back here and ask how to proceed.

But from what you say it sounds like there might be no 'report' and you'll hear no more about it.

Jami74

Thanks for your replies. With the letter was a photocopy of the invoice which reads as follows:

"Arrived at above address to find kitchen sink blocked and leaking. On further inspection found outside drain completely blocked with fat, hence unblocked drain and renewed waste pipes."

The letter from the letting agents reads:

"Two members of staff had asked you whether any food or fat had been poured down the sink to cause the blockage, to this you answered no.
Unfortunately following the report from the plumber this was not the case- The inspection found that the cause of the blockage was due to fat in the waste pipe, which the plumber was unable to unblock and therefore the waste pipes were renewed.
Due to the cause of the blockage your landlord is not prepared to pay for the repair..."

G_M

Jami74 wrote: »

Thanks for your replies. With the letter was a photocopy of the invoice which reads as follows:

"Arrived at above address to find kitchen sink blocked and leaking. On further inspection found outside drain completely blocked with fat, hence unblocked drain and renewed waste pipes."

The letter from the letting agents reads:

"Two members of staff had asked you whether any food or fat had been poured down the sink to cause the blockage, to this you answered no.
Unfortunately following the report from the plumber this was not the case- The inspection found that the cause of the blockage was due to fat in the waste pipe, which the plumber was unable to unblock and therefore the waste pipes were renewed.
Due to the cause of the blockage your landlord is not prepared to pay for the repair..."

Ouch! That doesn't quite tally with:
"I phoned the plumber and asked him what he thought caused the blockage and he said it was probably a slow build up over a long period of time and that he didn't think it was due to fat being put down the sink, he also said the pipes were old and needed replacing anyway as they were leaking."

Now this won't ever reach a court, but if it did, they'd have a strong case on the basis of the report, and that affects the outcome of negotiations.

Basically, if you caused the blockage, you are responsible.
If you didn't cause the blockage, you are not responsible.

The report points strongly towards the former.

If, however, you can get the plumber to amend the report, or write another, talking about the slow build up... old pipes etc then that might change things. However since you've been there 4 years, even the 'slow build up over a long period' could be contested.

So although I'd contest this charge still, I'd be prepared to compromise during discussions, ie offer 50%.

At the end of the day they could take it from your deposit and use the report to justify. Sorry!

Debt_Free_Chick

"Fat build up" is a generic term, IMHO. It doesn't mean that you've intentionally poured fat down the sink. In my experience, one can expect a certain amount of fat build up from normal use, unless you make a conscious effort to clear the drains regularly e.g. with boiling water and bleach and/or caustic soda.

Offer to pay half ...?

Jami74

Thank-you all!
I have composed a letter back to the letting agent explaining that I'm not happy at being called a liar, pointing out that they'd interpretated the report wrongly, told them what the plumber told me and that he is happy to speak to them if they contact him and that I don't feel we are directly and fully responsible for the blockage and leaking pipes. Should I say we are not prepared to pay the full amount and see what they come back with or just send a cheque for half the amount? Partner doesn't want to offer anything and just let them take if out of our deposit but I'd rather sort it out amicably now.

princeofpounds

Don't offer anything as it is an admission of partial liability. If you want to negotiate, you must do it on a without prejudice basis (google it).

Jami74

Okay thanks. I tried googling it but didn't really understand it. I'll just say that we are not prepared to pay the full amount.

G_M

I'll just say that we are not prepared to pay the full amount.

No. As prince says: "Don't offer anything as it is an admission of partial liability."

Stick to denial and referring them to the plumber for now. Take it step by step.

BitterAndTwisted

I also wouldn't comment on being called a liar either! Far better to brush it off as a possible "misunderstanding" or "misinterpretation" on their part.